Anjuna Beach Goa, (mid 70s pictures)

Well semi nudism wouldn't be unknown peak especially back then. Even today if you get out and about you'll see farm workers dressed in little else than a small loin cloth, toddy tappers work in shorts and imagine have doe for a long time.

When focusing on the nudity and charas of those days it's easy to forget that these people forged many friendships with local people over the years, helped out families with more than just paying the rent. Attended family weddings and birthdays, had families visit them in Europe. there is was a lot of positive interaction.

I was talking to the owner of the Ferns Bar in Palolem sometime ago, Ferns was one of the original hippy hangouts in 90's Palolem where you would regularly see a group of 20 - 30 French/British/Austrian/ German hippies, sucking the glaze off a chillum and chugging beer to the sounds of Canned Heat and The Doors, long hair, colourful trousers and a waccy waistcoat..But for the most part lovely people albeit a bit hardcore for me. (boy they could smoke chillums)

The owner now has a totally different clientele, and is doing well, I mentioned in passing that she must be glad the old days have gone and she now makes a easier living. She looked at me in shock and said "no those days I miss, they were great people like my big family who helped us out a lot in the early days and bestowed many gifts and help on my family too.
I miss them cooking (hash)cakes in my kitchen, playing with our kids, or eating 4 fruit custards when the munchies set in. I miss all the laughs and mini dramas. Those were good days with good people, today's tourist is different they come eat and go with never a word" there was real emotion in her voice...

Nudity and drug taking partying was evident of course but there were other elements to the story.

And as with any group you had assholes who really pissed of the locals such was they're selfish behavior and attitudes.

The latter.

This picture scrapbook is so cool. I like it. I wish i was born at that time look so simple and easy and fun. Awesome!

Agree Klompen. When we first started going to Goa (13yrs ago), the Goan people were lovely, open, friendly and honest. The tourists (largely Brits, Dutch and Scandinavian) really admired this and responded by behaving similarly. We came from utterly different backgrounds but learned much from each other. There was a kind of understanding that we wouldn't wish to trade places but really enjoyed each other's company.

That's changed - the money in Goa has attracted Mumbai and Delhi people who are more business orientated and not as laid back. The advent of Russian tourism has brought a new element - Russians are culturally different and can appear brusque and demanding. And before somebody gets on their high horse about racist comments - it's not a criticism. They're just culturally different - emerging from almost a century of communism, they're bound to be.

There's still a great vibe in Goa but not as great as it used to be. But that's ife, I guess.

Interesting points. I have not been back to Goa since the Russian influx, but my daughter described what she saw a few years ago, when she visited.

My first reaction was that the way she described the general behavior of Russian tourists was very similar to the way that many Americans (& some Western Europeans) behaved in the 70s. They weren't emerging from a century of anything - certainly not communism. I think it's more to do with a sense of superiority, due to comparative financial advantages.

@klompen: FYI: the Goans were in the catering business - especially on board ships - for centuries. Most - or at least many - galley staff on ships in the British navy were Goans. They didn't learn that from the 'hippies'. A lot of Goans spoke English for centuries also, as it was always famous for its international ports.

Well said Tarotray.

Hey Akarn_navokas You sound like a real fan of Gils,,,,,,,,,,
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Worldbridger...7093917&sr=1-3
.

Whoah seventies'hippy is back, a welcome return!

Conor M

Thanks Conor,,,,

Yes, welcome back!

You have been missed..........

I remember meeting a beggar whilst in India in the very early 1970s. I would guess his age to be late 20s. His line as a reason he should be given money was: "No Mother - no Father". We just shrugged. I live in Asia now - and see the continual dependence on parents. "children" in their 30s or 40s (actually it never ends) who can't do anything without the approval of their domineering parents.

No Thanks - I don't want my kids to be like that.

Yeah ,, it wasn't all love peace & rock n'roll,, and like Ray says there were some real heavy times as well, some I sometimes can hardly believe happened.
I remember, Maybe Ray remembers too, One guy (details are sketchy) he robbed someones house, people knew who'd done it, he was hounded & chased until caught then a bunch of guys held him down and carved THIEF unto his forehead with blades,,,,,

For me it was great from around 1970 until 78 - 79 when lots of heavies came over from europe & the UK to get into the drugs thing but they came with blades, guns & big money, they had no interest in Goa Or India, philosophy, religion or traditions just for exporting drugs back to europe.

Maybe that was good for me, I managed to get out of it,,,,,,
If I hadn't I know I would have died there, Sadly like a lot of friends did,,,,, Bom Shankar